Mushroom Memristors: Shiitake Mycelium as Computer Chips

TL;DR
Scientists grew a network of shiitake mushroom mycelium and wired it to electrodes, creating a living memristor—a component that changes resistance when electricity passes through it. The fungal memristor could be trained like a neural network, retained its function after drying, and operated reliably up to 5.85 kHz. This shows that fungi can serve as a low‑cost, eco‑friendly alternative to silicon chips for neuromorphic computing. The work is a proof‑of‑concept that could inspire future bio‑based electronics.

What the researchers actually did

The team, led by LaRocco, Tahmina, Petreaca, Simonis, and Hill, set out to test whether a common edible mushroom could replace rare‑earth‑based semiconductor components in neuromorphic circuits. They cultured shiitake ( Lentinula edodes ) mycelium on a nutrient agar substrate and allowed the fungal hyphae to grow into a dense, interconnected network. Using a standard electrophysiology rig, they positioned microelectrodes on the mycelium surface, establishing a simple electrical interface.

Once the mycelial mat was mature, the researchers applied voltage pulses across the electrodes and recorded the resulting current. By repeatedly applying these stimuli, they trained the fungal network to exhibit a memristive response—meaning its electrical resistance changed in a history‑dependent way, similar to the way synapses strengthen or weaken in a biological brain. After training, the mycelium was dried in a controlled environment to test whether the memristive behavior persisted. Finally, they subjected the dried sample to high‑frequency electrical stimulation to determine the upper limit of reliable operation.

Throughout the experiment, the team monitored the fungal health, noting that the mycelium remained viable and continued to conduct electricity even after dehydration. They also recorded the frequency response of the system, finding that the memristive effect remained robust up to 5.85 kHz.

The results that matter

The study reports that shiitake mycelium can be grown into a functional memristor that retains its electrical properties after dehydration. Crucially, the fungal memristor operated reliably at frequencies up to 5.85 kHz, a range that overlaps with many neuromorphic computing applications. The researchers also highlighted the ability of the mycelium to be “trained” through electrical stimulation, indicating that it can adapt its resistance in response to input signals, a hallmark of synaptic plasticity.

In addition to performance metrics, the authors noted the fungus’s radiation resistance—a trait that could make it suitable for aerospace or deep‑space electronics where exposure to high‑energy particles is a concern. While the study did not quantify radiation tolerance, it referenced well‑known fungal resilience to harsh environments, suggesting a potential advantage over conventional silicon devices.

Wait — what’s a memristor?

A memristor, short for “memory resistor,” is a two‑terminal electronic component whose resistance depends on the history of voltage and current that has passed through it. Think of it as a resistor that “remembers” how much charge has flowed through it, allowing it to retain information without needing power. This property mirrors how real neurons strengthen or weaken connections (synapses) when they fire, making memristors attractive for neuromorphic computing—hardware that emulates brain‑like parallel processing.

In the context of the study, the shiitake mycelium behaves like a memristor because the fungal hyphae can change their conductive pathways when stimulated. The network’s resistance shifts in a way that depends on past electrical activity, enabling it to store and process information similarly to a neural network.

Why this could matter

If fungi can replace silicon in neuromorphic chips, the implications span several dimensions:

• Sustainability: Growing mycelium requires only a nutrient medium and a controlled environment, avoiding the mining of rare‑earth metals and the energy‑intensive fabrication steps of semiconductor manufacturing.
• Cost: The materials and processes involved in cultivating mycelium are inexpensive compared to lithography, doping, and clean‑room facilities.
• Scalability: Mycelial networks can grow to arbitrary sizes, potentially allowing on‑demand, self‑expanding computing substrates.
• Environmental resilience: The study’s mention of radiation resistance hints at applications in space or high‑altitude environments where conventional electronics falter.
• Biodegradability: After their useful life, fungal membranes could be composted, reducing electronic waste.

These advantages could make neuromorphic systems more accessible for research, education, and low‑resource deployment, while also aligning with growing demands for green electronics.

What it does NOT prove

The authors are careful to frame their findings as a proof‑of‑concept. The study does not yet demonstrate:

• Mass‑production feasibility: Scaling from a laboratory petri dish to a commercial chip would require engineering advances in controlling fungal growth patterns and integrating them with existing electronic fabrication lines.
• Long‑term reliability: The durability of fungal memristors under continuous operation, varying temperatures, or mechanical stress remains untested.
• Complex computing tasks: While the mycelium can be trained and operated at 5.85 kHz, the study does not show performance on benchmark neuromorphic workloads such as pattern recognition or reinforcement learning.
• Integration with other components: The interface between fungal memristors and conventional electronic circuits (e.g., CMOS logic) has not been explored.

Thus, while the results are promising, they represent an early step toward bio‑based neuromorphic hardware rather than a ready‑to‑deploy technology.

The bigger picture

This research sits at the intersection of mycology, bioelectronics, and neuromorphic engineering. Over the past decade, scientists have explored unconventional substrates—such as slime molds, bacterial colonies, and even liquid metals—for computing. The shiitake study adds to this growing body of work by demonstrating that a well‑studied, edible fungus can act as a memristive element that survives dehydration and operates at useful frequencies.

In the broader field, neuromorphic computing seeks to emulate the brain’s efficiency by using massively parallel, low‑power architectures. Traditional approaches rely on silicon‑based crossbar arrays, phase‑change memory, or spintronic devices. Biological substrates offer an alternative route, potentially overcoming material scarcity and enabling self‑healing, adaptive systems. The shiitake memristor could inspire hybrid designs where fungal networks perform specific processing tasks while being coupled to conventional electronics for control and readout.

Frequently asked questions

Q1: Can shiitake mycelium replace silicon in all computing applications?
A1: The study shows that mycelium can function as a memristor at frequencies up to 5.85 kHz, but it does not yet demonstrate suitability for high‑speed, high‑density computing tasks that silicon currently dominates.

Q2: Is the fungal memristor durable enough for everyday use?
A2: The research demonstrates that the mycelium retains functionality after dehydration, but long‑term operational stability under continuous electrical stress and environmental variations remains to be evaluated.

Q3: How does the fungal memristor compare to other bio‑based memristors?
A3: Compared to earlier bio‑memristive systems, shiitake offers a robust, scalable growth medium and demonstrated radiation resistance, but detailed performance comparisons with other biological substrates are still pending.

Q4: Could this technology be used in space missions?
A4: The study notes radiation resistance, suggesting potential for space applications, but practical deployment would require further testing of the mycelium’s resilience to vacuum, temperature extremes, and radiation doses encountered in orbit.

Q5: Are there safety concerns with using fungi in electronics?
A5: The shiitake fungus is edible and widely cultivated, but any bio‑based electronic system would need to manage contamination, moisture control, and integration with non‑living components.

Sources

• LaRocco J, Tahmina Q, Petreaca R, Simonis J, Hill J. Sustainable Memristors from Shiitake Mycelium for High‑Frequency Bioelectronics. Europe PMC. DOI: 10.1101/2025.07.11.664296. URL: https://europepmc.org/article/PPR/PPR1060086.
• Related work: General literature on memristive behavior in biological systems and neuromorphic computing.

Educational Disclaimer

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not
medical advice, mental health advice, diagnosis, treatment guidance, or a
recommendation to use any substance, supplement, therapy, or protocol.

We review publicly available research and explain what the evidence may
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Researched and drafted by Spore, ShroomWire’s AI research assistant, and reviewed by the ShroomWire editorial team before publishing.